STEM Challenge a Day- 10 STEM opportunities for your Colt!

1. Solo Cup Challenge: (This activity was done by the 4th grade teachers at our last science meeting and loved it!) Grab some plastic cups and make the tallest tower possible in 5 minutes. 

Optional challenges: Reduce the time. Add in Dixie cups. 

2. Use coins to create an arch. 

3. Create a leprechaun trap. Not a lure, a trap. Pieces must move when triggered. 

4. Create and build a lego boat that floats. 

5. Create a paper plate marble run: Provide each child with one paper plate and access to various craft supplies. I demonstrated how to create some simple arches using strips of construction paper. I also provided each student with their own individual pack of Wikki Stix. (You can also buy them in large quantities.) You can do this activity with just construction paper and tape, or try other materials as well, like pipe cleaners or straws.

6. Hot Chocolate STEM: Does temperature affect the speed at which a solution will dissolve? Test with cool, then warm, then hot water to see. 

7. STEM challenge: basketball tower https://www.lauracandler.com/stem-engineering-project/

8. Build a chain reaction with craft sticks. https://frugalfun4boys.com/build-a-chain-reaction-with-popsicle-or-craft-sticks/

9. Build a bridge with mini marshmallows and toothpicks. Extend the bridge. Have it hold weight. Then deconstruct and make rice crispy treats! (Since you’ll have washed your hands and not be touching your face, of course.)

10. Trampoline STEM Challenge in the Classroom or at Home

What you need:

• colander
• rubber bands
• toothpicks
• binder clips
• material
• a ball
• masking tape

Start by threading one end of a rubber band through a colander hole. Secure with a toothpick and start stretching the rubber band across the colander. Push the other end of the rubber band through another colander hole and secure with a toothpick! This requires fairly advance fine motor control, so either do this with upper elementary kids or be prepared to help out with this step.

When you feel that enough rubber bands are in place to support the trampoline, you can add a piece of fabric. You will probably want to have these pre-cut ahead of time. For this test, we just used a plastic bag:

Secure the material with binder clips and get ready to test your trampoline! We tried a variety of balls. Ping pong balls are great because they will not bounce out of control and are light enough to not hurt anyone. If you are doing this with older kids or a small group, you might want to try a super bouncy ball. For testing, we placed masking tape (painter’s tape) at 1 foot increments to get an idea of how high the balls bounced!